September 27, 2025: As a result of the Ukraine War, Poland, which borders Ukraine, decided to expand its armed forces, including purchasing a thousand new South Korean K2 tanks. Most of these tanks will be produced in Poland under license, in cooperation with the South Korean manufacturer, which continues to supply some components. This will begin in 2026 and make Poland the largest user of K2s, as South Korea only has a few hundred. Poland will also become the European country with the largest force of modern tanks. This is mainly to deter any Russian attacks on Poland or the neighboring Baltic States.

Currently, Poland has 160 K2 tanks, 192 K9 self-propelled 155mm howitzers, and 192 Homar-K rocket launchers. Homar is similar to the American HIMARS vehicles. The Homar fire control system can handle rockets used in HIMARS, along with several other rocket types. Poland can use HIMARS rockets as well as a wide variety of South Korean rockets.

South Korea’s 400 K2s are sufficient to counter any threat from North Korea, which has a tank force consisting of ancient Russian T-62 tanks, modified but not significantly improved by North Korea. North Korea has designed and manufactured a more modern T-2020 tank but could only afford to build fourteen so far, with indications that mass production may eventually occur. Whether the T-2020 is effective remains to be seen. During military parades in North Korea, the nine T-2020s are always present.

South Korea is not only much wealthier than North Korea but also a major manufacturer and exporter of industrial goods, including modern South Korean-designed weapons. One of the best examples is the K2 Black Panther tank, which compares favorably with the latest version of the American M1. Unlike earlier South Korean-designed tanks, the K2 contains no American technology and is a completely South Korean creation. This allows the K2 to be freely exported, leading to over a thousand K2s in production or on order, most for export customers.

The high quality of the K2 comes with a high price of over $8 million each, making it the most expensive tank in the world. In 2023, South Korea approved the production of the fourth batch of K2s, giving South Korea a total of 410 K2s. That’s fewer than the 980 K2s Poland is acquiring. Poland faces a more formidable threat from Russia than South Korea faces from North Korea. While the K2 was a significant investment in South Korea’s defense capabilities against the persistent threat posed by North Korea, it has also proven to be a highly profitable export item.

Poland received its first 180 K2s in 2025 and has begun producing the remaining 820 in Poland under a manufacturing license. The K2 was developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. Introduced in 2014, after over two decades of development, the first model was a 56-ton tank armed with a 120mm NATO-compatible main gun, carrying 40 shells. The main gun has an autoloader, reducing the crew size from four to three. The autoloader enables the K2 to fire ten or more aimed shells per minute.

Tank-to-tank combat is usually short and intense. The tank that can fire first and deliver the most well-aimed shells will win, even against multiple opponents. K2 armor includes metal and ERA (explosive reactive armor) in addition to an APS (Active Protection System) to intercept anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades (RPGs). The 12.7mm machine guns on top of the turret can be operated from inside the tank using RWS (Remote Weapons System) technology. The K2 also includes NBC (nuclear-biological-chemical) protection.

The K2’s armament is equally impressive. Its main armament is a domestically produced Rheinmetall 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun equipped with an autoloader. This gun, compatible with all standard NATO tank rounds, can also launch the advanced KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition), an intelligent, fire-and-forget projectile that targets the thinner top armor of most tanks. Secondary armament includes a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun.

The tank is further enhanced by a domestically developed auto-target detection and tracking system, incorporating hunter-killer functionality. The K2’s electric gun and turret driving system, along with the stabilization of its gunner’s primary sight and commander’s panoramic sight, enable effective day and night operations. The K2 also features an advanced suspension system that offers multiple positioning options to maximize combat effectiveness across various terrains.

With a top speed of 68 kilometers per hour on roads and 40 kilometers per hour cross-country, an auxiliary power unit allows the tank to remain stationary, waiting for action, without operating the main engine. The success of the K2 design has attracted numerous export customers.